February 2009

Release Date: Feb. 11, 2009

Autism Conference Set at ASU

A specialist in the treatment of individuals with social cognitive deficits will speak at a two-day autism conference Feb. 27-28 at Angelo State University.

The conference, hosted by the ASU College of Education and the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, will be conducted in the Mayer Administration Building, 2601 W. Avenue N.

Michelle Garcia Winner specializes in the treatment of cognitive deficits including autism, Asperger Syndrome and nonverbal learning disorders through her Center for Social Thinking Inc. in the Silicon Valley of California.

The first day will focus on Winner’s ILAUGH model of social cognition, which is designed for parents and professionals to help understand the inner mind of people on the autism spectrum, with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and with nonverbal learning disability.

The presentation will also address how best to approach writing individualized education plan (IEP) goals that impact change in how affected students understand the world. Winner will introduce assessment concepts and explore problems associated with using only standardized tests to qualify students.

The second day of the workshop, the Nuts and Bolts of Starting Social Thinking Programs, will offer parents and professionals more specific knowledge about assessing and teaching students on the autism spectrum. Group participation and active dialogue will present assessment and treatment techniques for use in the classroom, at home and in the therapy room.

Later, participants will learn methods to teach students about their own IEPs. Social Behavior Mapping, a user-friendly strategy will help explain to students why behavioral expectations exist.

Registration is free and available at the workshop, but early registration by Thursday, Feb. 19, is recommended because of limited seating.

For more information about the free workshop, contact Dr. Richard Evans at Richard.Evans@angelo.edu or Julie Steely at JSteely@wtrc.com.